Black ex-Boris Johnson aide joins criticism of Tory donor in ‘hate all blacks’ Diane Abbott row

Sign as much as our free fortnightly publication from The Independent’s Race Correspondent Nadine White

Sign as much as our free fortnightly publication The Race Report

A former Downing Street adviser to Boris Johnson says the Conservative donor who allegedly abused Diane Abbott ought to make amends by utilizing his wealth to combat racism.

Author and member of the Tory get together Samuel Kusumu mentioned the apology by tycoon Frank Hester was not sufficient and that he should use his “time and resources” to point out he was sorry for his feedback concerning the Labour MP.

Mr Hester has come underneath fireplace after the Guardian claimed that he had made “reprehensible” feedback about Ms Abbott in 2019 throughout an organization assembly.

“It’s like trying not to be racist but you see Diane Abbott on the TV, and you’re just like… you just want to hate all black women because she’s there, and I don’t hate all black women at all, but I think she should be shot,” he’s alleged to have mentioned.

Responding to the claims, Mr Kasumu mentioned folks like residence secretary James Cleverly and commerce secretary Kemi Badenoch wouldn’t be in the cupboard had it not been for the trailblazing MP Ms Abbott, who entered the Commons practically 40 years in the past.

The former adviser mentioned that though he disagreed together with her political beliefs, he would by no means have gotten a job in Number 10 himself had it not been for Ms Abbott’s “historic” lead.

“She ran so that people like me can walk,’ Mr Kasumu, 36, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

He added: “As a black Brit, Diane Abbott is very historically significant. She was first elected in 1987, the year I was born. I wouldn’t have been a special adviser in Downing St if it wasn’t for Diane Abbott. Kemi Badenoch, Kwasi Kwarteng, James Cleverly, David Lammy wouldn’t be where they were today if it wasn’t for Diane Abbott.

“For many black Britons every time Diane is attacked we do feel it… we feel a sense of hurt because of her historical significance. Regardless of what our politics may be, and our politics do differ, she ran so that people like me can walk.”

Mr Hester was the only greatest donor to the Conservative get together again in 2023, in keeping with Electoral Commission information, having given the get together £10m.

The get together are actually underneath strain to return the cash and condemn the donor’s feedback, because the Labour get together referred to as on the Tories to “return every penny”.

Labour get together chair Annelise Dodd mentioned the feedback are “reprehensible.”

She added: “Frank Hester is the Conservative Party’s biggest ever donor, as well as a personal donor to the prime minster, it is therefore vital that Rishi Sunak and the Tories return his donations, in full without delay.

“Rishi Sunak has claimed that words matter, and he must know that holding on to that money would suggest the Conservatives condone these disturbing comments. Sunak must return every penny.”

Mr Kasumu pointed to the murders of Labour MP Jo Cox and Conservative MP Sir David Amess and agreed that phrases matter, including that Mr Hester’s feedback have been “completely abhorrent and unacceptable”.

He mentioned he didn’t help requires the Tories to pay again the £10 million they’d been given by Mr Hester, however that the businessman ought to use his fortune to atone for his remarks: “It is good that he has apologised. But it’s not enough, he must do more.

He added: “He is going to have to do more than try to call Diane Abbott. He is going to have to invest his time and resources into being part of the solution (to racism) because right now he is part of the problem.”

A press release launched by Mr Hester’s agency mentioned: “Frank Hester accepts that he was rude about Diane Abbott in a private meeting several years ago but his criticism had nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin.

“The Guardian is right when it quotes Frank saying he abhors racism, not least because he experienced it as the child of Irish immigrants in the 1970’s.

“He rang Diane Abbott twice today to try to apologise directly for the hurt he has caused her, and is deeply sorry for his remarks. He wishes to make it clear that he regards racism as a poison which has no place in public life.”

In response to a request by the BBC, a spokesperson for Mr Hester mentioned the assertion isn’t a affirmation of the alleged quotes.